Here’s a quick post to show off the artwork of Dutch illustrator Martijn van der Linden, who illustrated Maranke Rinck’sThe Other Rabbit (Lemniscaat). I believe this book was released here in the States last Fall (and it may have even been released in the Netherlands the same year, though I’m not sure about that), and I’m just slow in getting to it. Better late than never.

I like this enchanting import. It opens with two spreads that show a memory game in process. You know, like this. One card has been overturned, and it shows Rabbit. “Rabbit,” the text says, “is looking for the other rabbit.” On the next memory-game spread, we see that, instead of another rabbit, there is (on another overturned card) an airplane. Rabbit hops in the plane (the spread featured above) to find the other rabbit.

Along the way, he meets a whole host of animals, including birds who join him in the air. But, all in the name of pairing off, the birds meet some other birds and head off in another direction. Rabbit is alone again. When he lands on an island, he meets a king, a chicken, and a group of various creatures on the island. Each one of them pairs off. When Rabbit meets a dragon and asks if she has the other rabbit, the dragon tells Rabbit that, without the rabbit, she’ll be all alone. However, with the help of a beetle, Rabbit outsmarts the dragon — in the friendliest possible way. And I won’t give away the very end.

The School Library Journal review refers to the dream-like events in the book as “gently absurd” (I love it), comparing it to a Peter McCarty book. I can see that. Amusingly, Publishers Weekly refers to it as “doppelganger creepy,” not “twin cute.” But I don’t happen to find it creepy at all. (To each her own.)

And I like the illustrations. Here are some more. Enjoy!

“‘Where’s the other rabbit?’ Rabbit asks the birds.‘We don’t know. Can we help you look for him?'”(Click to enlarge spread)

“Rabbit coughs. ‘Oh, yes,’ says the king. ‘You were looking for the other rabbit.I’m busy right now. Ask my animal friends.’‘I have an idea!’ says the other king. ‘You can take my car.'”(Click to enlarge spread)

(Click second image to see spread in its entirety)

“‘You can’t have him,’ says the dragon. ‘Because without Rabbit I’ll be all alone.’‘But I want him,’ says Rabbit. The dragon shakes her head. ‘Then I’m going to fight you. And I’m going to win!’ says Rabbit. ‘You can try,’ says the dragon.”(Click to enlarge spread)